Dan Graziano's Trade Winds  —  Talk about a turnaround.  This wasn't even the top guy Baltimore got in the Erik Bedard trade, but here he is, atop the wish lists of several teams looking for left-handed relief help.  Teams connected to Sherrill include the Cardinals, Rays, Marlins, Red Sox and others.

YANKS CAN'T AFFORD FENWAY FLOP  —  MUST PROVE WIN STREAK NO FLUKE  —  Give them credit for doing what was needed to avoid being buried in the AL East by winning the first six games following the All-Star break.  —  Starting tonight at Fenway Park, the Yankees step up in class with three games against the World Champion Red Sox.

Why doesn't Rollins get Manuel's rules?  —  NEW YORK - Charlie Manuel has two rules.  Two.  Hustle, and be on time.  —  You don't have to be an MVP or an all-star, a Gold Glove winner or a home-run king.  You don't have to put the seat down, or chew with your mouth closed, or say “excuse me” when you spit.

Clock Ticks on Manny Moments  —  I once asked a prominent relief pitcher to describe the most idiotic thing he had witnessed in the big leagues.  “That's easy,” he said, and launched into the story of a former teammate—an All-Star outfielder—who refused to use toilet paper.

17 ejected in Class A brawl  —  DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Umpires ejected 15 players and the two managers following a bench-clearing brawl during a tense game between the Midwest League's Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs.  —  Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo threw a ball toward the Dayton dugout during …

Samardzija gets the call, may get start this weekend  —  CUBS IN BRIEF  —  A Cubs team fiercely trying to focus on the present could get its first glimpse of a big part of its future today with the arrival of top pitching prospect Jeff Samardzija.  —  The hard-throwing right-hander from Valparaiso …

Ortiz will bring punch to the party  —  The most telling aspect of David Ortiz's absence from the Red Sox lineup is that by any meaningful measure, the team's offense did not lose any of its potency.  —  To a man, of course, the Sox are thrilled at the timing of the return of Ortiz …

Texas' Rangers' 1-2 punch appears to be a hit again  —  Kinsler, Young end mini-slumps  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  One positive to come out of Wednesday's 10-8 loss to the White Sox: Ian Kinsler and Michael Young appeared to have ended mini-slumps.  —  Young had a solo home run …

Front office infighting hampers Dodgers' trade talks … The Dodgers are diving into the middle of a lot of trade talks, but skepticism remains steep about whether they'll actually pull anything off.  “They're a mess,” one NL executive says, flatly.  —  Several baseball people say there was a deal …

Rauch deal has implications  —  Like most Diamondbacks trades, Tuesday's deal for reliever Jon Rauch seemed to address both a current question mark (a struggling bullpen) and an upcoming one (next year's closer).  —  And by sending second-base prospect Emilio Bonifacio to the Washington Nationals …

Baldelli's minor step may raise Rays' bat options  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As executive vice president Andrew Friedman looks to acquire a right-handed-hitting outfielder, the Rays might yet have another intriguing option.  —  Rocco Baldelli played rightfield for Double-A Montgomery on Wednesday …

In need of a trade partner?  Pirates might be your team  —  Tell Danny your opinion!  —  The Pirates have five of the most interesting players available on the July trading market, so it's no surprise that people around the game were talking about Pittsburgh this week.